Badajoz lies on a low range of hills crowned by a ruined Moorish castle and overlooks the Guadiana river.

The city is heavily fortified – a bastioned wall with a moat protects the city as does the fort of San Cristobal. The river separates the castle hill and the fort making the city even more impregnable.

Even the Cathedral resembles a fortress with its massive walls. A magnificent granite bridge is used to cross the river. some photos of Badajoz…

Las Murallas – the walls – are magnificent and encompass the whole of ancient Ávila. Building started at the end of 11th century and they are 2.5 kilometres long, 14 metres high and around 3 metres thick. They are still in pretty good nick.

There are eighty-eight towers and nine gates that include the imposing Puerta del Alcázar and the Puerta de Rastro. Visitors can walk along the walls between these two points. The walls are beautifully illuminated at night.

The city of Alicante is a Mediterranean port that boasts a fine palm-lined promenade – and a castle.

I can attest to these facts because I went there many years ago – I don’t know why – on reflection, yes I do – it was to visit somewhere interesting instead of sunbathing and boozing on a Benidorm holiday. I travelled there by train and very pleasant it was too – the little train leisurely making its way along the narrow-gauge track.

The train and the castle still exist. The castle – el Castillo de Santa Barbara – is perched 350 feet above the city and can be reached by driving up the winding road to the summit or, as I did, by using the lift.

Alicante has other attractions – a cathedral, a museum, beaches, restaurants and, for those that like that sort of thing, shopping.

Another reason to go there is to catch a ferry to the Balearic Islands.

Vista del puerto y el Castillo de Santa Bárbara
Skyline of the city of Alicante, seen from the harbour.
Author: Carlos Quesada Granja